Filler head with fluid pressure operated valve and discharge orifice clear out meanscombined with fluid metering means



May 2, 1950 R. s. SMITH EILEEE HEAD WITH FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED VALVE AND DISCHARGE ORIF'CE CLEAR OUT MEANS COMBINED WITH FLUID METERING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 22, 1945 May 2, 1950 R. s. SMITH 2,505,799 FELLEE HEAD WITH EL PEE EE OPEEATED VALVE DISCHAT i L .FCE LER O T MEANS MBINED TI-I FLUD METERN EANS Filed June 22, 1945 5 SheeJus-Shss'i 92/ zo le 6, 5

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j 25 [U1/Enh?? l j1g: Reuben 52527/5'57 51772'7'7'7 LEAR OUT MEANS May 2, 1950 R. s. SMITH FILLER HEAD WITH FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED VALVE AND DISCHARGE ORIFICE COMBINED WITH FLUID METERING MEANS Filed June 22, 1945 R. S, SMITH May 2, 1950 CLEAR OUT MEANS FILLER HEAD WITH FLUD PRESSURE OPERATED VALVE AND DISCHARGE ORIFI COMBINED WITH FLUID METERING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 22, 1945 "lill" MEANS R. S. SMITH TH FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED VALVE May 2, 1950 FILLER HEAD WI AND DISCHARGE ORIFICE CLEAR OU'll COMBINED WITH FLUID METERING MEANS Filed June 22, 1945 Patented May 2, '1950 FILLER HEAD WITH FLUID PRESSURE P- ERATED VALVE AND DISCHARGE ORIFICE CLEAR OUT MEANS COMBINED WITH FLUID METERING MEANS Reuben Stanley Smith, Altadena, Calif., assigner, by decree oi' distribution, to Jessie F. Smith Application June 22, 1945, Serial No. 601,009

12 Claims. (Cl. 226-100) This invention has to dogenerally with filling machines and is more particularly concerned with machines for delivering measured amounts of liquid to relatively small containers presented to it successively.

'I'hough not at al1 limited thereto, the machine is particularly well adapted to the packaging of liquids, such as sesame oil and pyrethrum, used in admixture with dichlorodiiiuoromethane to produce so-called aerosol pesticide bombs. The

relatively stable oil and pyrethrum are ordinarily delivered to the containers during one stage of operation while the relatively volatile dichlorodifiuoromethane is added later. In my copending application entitled Filling machine (A) iiled June 23, 1945, Serial No. 601,134, I have described a filling machine particularly well adapted to the delivery of dichlorodifluoromethane tothe containers, and certain of the structural Aand control features, described' and claimed in that application, are applicable likewise to the present machine. However, there are additional features in the present machine rendering it peculiarly adaptable to the handling of relatively stable oils andextracts;

I will proceed to describe the machine as put to this particular use so the significance of certain features may be emphasized by calling attention to specific characteristics of the liquids being handled, but this is in no way to be considered as limitative on the claims appended herein. I have also shown the'lpreferred embodiment of the invention as includingV means for introducing two liquids simultaneously to a single container, thus speeding up the delivery operation, but it will be understood that certain broad aspects of the invention are fully applicable where only a single liquid is being handled, and such claims as do not include the duplex arrangement are to be considered as contemplating a single-liquid arrangement.

It is among the major objects of the invention to provide a machine which is capable of rapid operation and yet one which delivers an extremely accurately measured amount of liquid each time it is operated.

The machine includes a releasable, containersupporting arrangement having a filling head with a delivery nozzle adapted to register with the fllling opening of the container, and a meter connected to a liquid source and to the filling head. The meter is adapted to discharge equal, measured amounts of liquid to the containers as they are successively presented to the head.

The exactness of the amount of liquid delivered to each container is a critical factor in connection with the operation of a machine of this type. Furthermore, proportionate quantities must be kept close to specification. For instance a typical formula, for an "aerosol bomb calls closely for dichlorodiiluoromethane, 8% sesame oil and 2% pyrethrum, all percentages being by weight, and the amounts being computed at given base specific gravities. We are concerned here only with the delivery of sesame oil and pyrethrum and it will be seen that, in the typical formula given above, there is to be a deli'very of four times as much, by weight, of sesame oil as of pyrethrum.

However, it is found in practice that the specific gravities of different' batches of material individually vary from the base values, and therefore it becomes necessary to adjust the measuring mechanism to compensate for such variations. The meter of my device measures by volumetric displacement rather than by weight. The ratio of the vspecific gravities of the named substances is such that to satisfy the above formula, the meter must deliver about 3.91 times as much, in volume, of sesame oil as of pyrethrurn. Then, to compensate for individual variations from the base specic gravities, the meter must be adliustable to vary individually the volumetric output of the two substances.

Accordingly, it is among the objects of the invention to provide means whereby the meter may be iinely regulated to insure extreme accuracy of delivery in spite of possible variance in the characteristics of the liquid being handled, and, in the case of duplex delivery, that the two metering mechanisms, though powered from a single source, be adjustable individually in accordance with the individual characteristics of the two liquids.

The individual metering of the two liquids, as against mixing the liquids and then metering the admixture, allows an accurate, individual check on the liquids at the point of delivery, and avoids the complication and inaccuracies arising by reason of the different specic gravities of the two liquids.

Also contributing to the accuracy of the metering, is the provision of means for bleeding off any air which may be entrained in the liquid during its transit to the meter, for it is obvious that if air be carried into the meter, there will be a corresponding decrease in the liquid delivery from the meter.

The liquids passing through the delivery nozzle are often of a character tending to clog the delivery orice and thereby materially reduce, or

even destroy, the efficiency of the machine. Such A is true 'of pyrethrum which has a tendency to precipitate wax, especiallygunder certain temperature conditions and when in admixture with other substances. Therefore I provide means which clears the delivery orifice of liquid after each delivery impulse. Preferably, the cleansing agent is a pressurized gas blown through the orifice and, where the liquid which is later to be introduced to the container may be readily transformed into a gas, it is preferable that this substance be utilized as the agent, for then no contaminatingmaterial is introduced to the container during the clearing operation. For instance, in theillustrative case, dichlorodifluoromethane is particularly well suited to the purpose.

As an added feature, though this is not essential to the invention, considered in its broader aspects, I utilize the meter-actuating mechanism4 in connection with the delivery of the clearing. agent, but this, as well as other features and objects of the invention may be brought out better in connection with the following detailed description. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detached section on line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, medial section through the clamp of the device;

Fig. 'I is an enlarged F18. 5; ,l

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on line 8--8 of Fig. 5:

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section online 8-9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a part of Fig. 5 but with one of the valves in a dierent position;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 but showing another valve in changed position;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged, detached elevation partly in medial section of the meter of my device; Fig. 13 is a section on line I3-I3 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a section on line I4-I4 of Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a section on line I5I5 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a schematic view of the machine, its valvesrand pipe connections;

Fig. 17 shows the control valve of Fig. 16 in changed position; and

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 but showing section on line 1-1 of n the valve in still another position.

Referring first to the schematic layout of Fig. 16, the machine includes a stand A for receiving and positioning container C and made up of delivery head B and holder or clamp D, meter M, control valve E. and meter-actuating and gas compressing device G. H and I represent tanks containing liquids which are to be simultaneously metered into containers, such as C, successively presented to head B. In the illustrative case, tank H contains pyrethrum and tank I contains sesame oil, and supply lines I0 and II for meter M extend from tanks H and I, respectively. Preferably, the tank liquid is pressurized by the application thereto of gas, such as compressed air, through lines I2.

Since frequent reference will be made to the application of different parts of the machine to containers which are being filled thereby, I will ting I5 has a conical external `seat I1, a filling bore I8 and a counterbore I9; the counterbore and retainer web 20 forming a cage for checkvalve ball 2| adapted to admit liquid to Ithe container and then to prevent reverse flow, especially when the container is subsequently internally lpressurized.

The machine is mounted on a table 22 having a top 23 and a shelf 24. Stand A includes a base plate 25, secured to table top 23, a post 26, and a head plate 21 which is adjustable vertically along thepost and is adapted, at 28, to be clamped in adjusted position.

Delivery head B (Figs. 5, 10 and l1) is in the form of a cylindrical body member 29 having a neck 30 extending through head plate 21, the body member being releasably clamped to the plate by nut 3|. The body member has a central, axial bore 32 opening to nozzle 33 which has a delivery orifice 34. The upper, bounding edge 35 of orifice 34, forms a valve seat for a purpose to be described. A conical bore 36, substantially complementary to fitting-seat I1, opens downwardly and outwardly from orifice 34 and recessed into the wall of this bore, but projecting slightly into the bore, is a packing washer 31, preferably an 0 ring of resilient material such as neoprene. A ring-cap 38 is threaded onto the body member at 33, and has a conical bore 48 which is, in effect, a continuation of bore 36, and a cylindrical bore 4I. The ring cap 38 provides detachable means for holding seatwasher 31 in position, so the latter may readily be replaced after it becomes worn. Bores 40 and 4I are adapted to receive container-fitting I6 so orifice 34 and filling bore I8 are in registration and, by pressing the container upwardly, fittingseat I1 may be tightly seated on washer 31 to form a tight seal between the container and fitting head.

Vertically slidable in bore 32 is a, piston 42 provided with a seal-ring 43 and a depending stem 44 of reduced diameter. The lower portion of the stem is centered in bore 32 by radial fins 45 (Fig. 8), and the conical terminal 46 forms a closure or valve member for orifice 34, insofar as its communication with the annular, gaschamber 41 is concerned. This gas chamber is annularly defined by stem 44 and the opposing peripheral wall of bore 32, and is longitudinally defined vby piston 42 and the body wall 48 through which orifice 34 opens. A gas-inlet port 49 opens from chamber 41 and is enlarged at 50 to take pipe 5I.

Piston 42 and stem 44 have an axially continuous bore 52 which opens tothe top of the piston. The lower end 53 of the bore is preferably somewhat relatively restricted in diameter, and immediately above the restriction is a boreportion of relatively large diameterV which forms a chamber 54. A valve seat 54' is provided at the Junction of chamber 54 and restriction 53.

Piston 55, provided with a seal-ring 55, is adapted to reciprocate through bore 32, the piston stem 51 being telescopically arranged with respect to piston 42 and stem 44, said stem 51 l being slidable longitudinally through bore 52.4

A liquid or mixing chamber 58 is longitudinally defined by pistons v42 and 55. The stem`51 is hollow, except at its lower end which is of solid, conical form to provide a valve member 59 adapted to engage seat 54 for closing chamber 54 from oriilce 34. lStem 44 is packed off in bore 52 by washer 5|).` The central passageway 8| of the stem opens to chambers 58 and 54 at 82 and 53, respectively. f

A positive stop for limiting the upward movement of piston 55, and hence of piston 42 due to engagement of seat 54' with valve member 59, is provided in the form of a plug 89 which projects into bore 32 and is pinned at 54 (Fig. 5) to body-neck 30. Spring 55 surrounds the reduced-diameter portion 55 of plug 83 and is interposed between plug shoulder 51 and piston 55. l

The spring tends constantly to depress piston 55 and thus, through stem 51, to depress piston 42 in a manner to engage valve members 59 and 48 with seats 54' and 35, respectively, thereby closing orifice 34 from both chambers 54 and 41.

Opening through body member 29 to chamber 58, are the diametrically opposite liquid-inlet ports 58 and 89, the communicating port-enlargements and 1| taking pipes 12 and 13. respectively, which run to meter M.

Clamp D for applying container C to lling head B, includes a cup-shaped base 14 attached to base-plate 25 at 15 (Fig. 6) and a cylindrical elevator or air-lift which is supported in base 14 for vertical reciprocation. Member 18 includes a cup 11 'which is in vertical, vaxial alinement with nozzle 33, and has a cylindrical portion 18 which lits complementary bore 19 in base 14 to guide the cup in its vertical movement. The base cavity 80 is vented at 8|.

The cup rim 82 is in-turned and rounded to take and center the rounded end |3 of container C, tting I4 being held in the clear. Con,- nected to cup 11 by nut 83 is a depending piston rod 84 carrying piston head 85, the latter being reciprocable through base-cylinder 85. R/od 84 is packed-olf at 81, the packing being retained container fitting I6 into liquid-tight relation with the nozzle seat-washer 31. When the container is clamped to the lling head, there is vertical clearance between the annular, upper shoulder 93 of piston head 85 and the base-shoulder 94, but when there is no container in clamped position, these shoulders engage to limit the upward movement of the cup. By adjusting head plate 21 vertically along post 25, the eiective force of spring 9|, during such times as 9, container is in clamped position, may be varied.

The upper end 95 of piston head 85 is of reduced diameter and. opening to the cylinder bore 86 at a point opposite this reduced diameter when the cup 11 is up, is a, horizontal air duct 96 which is enlarged and threaded at 91 to take compressed air supply pipe 93. At certain stages of operation, air is admitted through pipe 98 to cylinder 88 with sumcient effective forceto depress piston 85 and hence cup 11 against the resistance of spring 9| (see dotted lines, Fig. 6) the extent of depression being limited by contact of cup shoulder 99 with ring 88. However, the allowed extent of cup-depression is sumcient to permit container C to drop clear of nozzle 33 and then to be withdrawn entirely from the lling machine for replacement by an empty container. The empty container. first held at an angle (dotted lines in Fig. 2) with its rounded end in cup 11, is straightened up to put fitting I5 in axial alinement with nozzle 33, and then the air under pressure within cylinder 85 isl vented to the atmosphere. Thereupon, spring 9| elevates cup 11 and clamps the emptycontainer to head B.

Meter M (Figs. 4 and 12 to l5) includes a basecasting |00 bolted to shelf 24. C-asting |00 has a central, upstanding hub |0| with a vertical guide-bore |02, and cups |03 and |04, having vertical guide-bores |05 and |05, respectively. Webs |04 connect the cups, hub and base. Bolted at |01 to cups |03 and |04 is a hollow bridge member |08, open at top and bottom and curving upwardly at its central portion |09, as i viewed in front elevation (Fig. 12)

Bolted at |01' to bridge |08 and in axial alinement with bores |05 and |08, are cylinders ||0 and and their respective heads ||2 and I|3. A central block ||4 and cylinder ||5 are bolted at IIE to bridge |08 in vertical axial alinement with guide bore |02, the cylinder ||5 having an integral head ||1 t0 which a valve housing ||8 is bolted at ||9' (Fig. 14). The bores of cylin- Iders I|0,.||| and ||5 are indicated at ||9, |20 and |2|, respectively. Piston head |22 is bolted to rod |23 at |24' and is adapted to reciprocate through cylinder bore |2|. The bore-portion |24 above head |22 may be considered as a compression chamber,

.and that portion |25 below the head, as a. compressed-air or lift chamber. Rod |23 extends downwardly through stufdng box |26 and into sliding t with guide bore |02. Clamped to rod |23 between rod-shoulder |21 and nut |28 is a yoke |29, and a spring |30, acting' between yokeshoulder I3| and bridge shoulder |32, tends always to depress the yoke, rod and piston to the position of Figs. 12 to 15.

The displacement plungers and valvular arrangements associated with cylinders ||0 and are lidentical except that since, under the specications of the illustrative case, the displacement plunger in cylinder which is to handle the sesame oil, has double the effective diameter and therefore four times the effective cross-sectional area of the other displacement plunger. I will therefore describe only one valvular arrangement and one displacement arrangement in detail. I will apply similar reference numerals to corresponding parts but will follow the numerals applied to the elements of one of the units with the exponent a.

Displacement plunger |33 extends from displacement chamber I|9 through stufllng box |34 and through bore |35 in yoke arm |38. At its lower end the plunger carries a cylindrical head |31 which plays vertically through and is guided by the guide-bore |05. A central collar |38 is pinned to plunger |33 at a point above yokearm |38, and a compression spring |39encircles end-stop |40' carried by cylinder head ||2, but Y it will be noted that with the plunger |33 and 'will still be a little below cylinder head l|1, so

the compression chamber |24 is never completely' occupied by piston head 22, for a reason later to be stated.

Opening to air chamber |25 (represented by the portion of bore |2| below piston |22) in an inlet port |40 adapted to take compressed-air pipe |4|. Delivery pipe |0 leads to inlet passageway |42 which opens to the top of displacement chamber I I8, a check valve |43 being interposed in the passageway. Outlet passageway |44 leads from the `top of chamber ||8 and through head ||2, being enlarged at |45 to take the end of pipe 12 which leads to port 68 (Fig. 5) and thence to chamber 58 of delivery head B. A check valve |48 is provided in passageway |44. Pipes 12- and 13 have bleed. valves 12 and 13 (Fig. 1) at their highest points so air entrained in the liquid may be bled off to maintain solid streams of liquid and thus insure full, metered delivery to the containers.

Delivery pipe leads to inlet passageway |42a in cylinder which passageway opens to the top of displacement chamber |20 in that cylinder, and outlet passageway |44a leads from that chamber and through head H3 to pipe 13, the latter opening to port 68 (Fig. 5) and chamber 58 of head D.

Extending upwardly into guide bores |05 and |06, respectively, are threadably adjustable stop screws |41 and |48 for plungers |33 and |3311, respectively. Screws |41 and |48 have external tool-taking heads |48, |50, and lock-nuts |5I and |52, respectively. The effective displacement strokes of the plungers |33 and |33a may b e individually regulated by individual adjustment of their stop screws.

The down-stroke of piston rod |23, under the influence of spring |30, is limited by the engagement of yoke nut i 28 with the shoulder |53 formed by the top of hub The coincident downward movement of the yoke |28 acts through the yoke-arms |36 and |36a, springs |39 and |3941 and'heads |31 and |31a to depress plungers |33 and |33a. If these plungers strike their respective stops before the central plunger |23 and yoke |28 reach their downward limits (which will ordinarily be the case) yoke arms |86 and |36a merely compress springs |38 and |380. during the continued downward movement of the yoke.

Opening to compression chamber |24 in cylinder is a gas passageway |54 having an inlet branch |55 and an outlet branch |56, there being check valves |51 and |58 in branches |55 and |56, respectively. Pipe 5|, from port 48 and chamber 41 of head B (Fig. 5) connects to outlet |56, while pipe |59 extends to inlet |55. Pipe line |59 leads from a tank |60 of gas under pressure, there being an adjustable regulating or pressure-reducing valve |6| and a volume chamber |62' in the line. In the illustrative case, the gas in tank |60 is dichlorodiiluoromethane, though this choice is not at all limitative, as was explained in the forepart of the specification.

A control valve. conventionally indicated at E (Figs. 16 to 18) is provided for controlling the compressed air utilized for operating clamp D and the meter-yoke |28. Valve plug |62 is rotatable within valve case |63, the latter having exhaust ports |64, |65, a com-pressed air inlet port |66, and outlet ports |61 and |68. Plug |62, rotatable by handle |68, has inlet passageway and exhaust ports |1| and |12. Port 8 |61- opens to pipe |4| which leads to chamber |25 in: cylinder ||5, and port |68 opens to pipe 86 which leads to clamp-chamber 66 (Fig. 6)

When control handle |68 is in its central or neutral position (Fig. 17) the air inlet passageway |10 is blanked 01T,` pipe 88 is open to the atmosphere through ports |68, |1| and |65, and pipe I 4| is open to the atmosphere through ports |61, |12 and |64. It follows that air chamber 66 is vented, and spring 8| is effective to clamp container Cin the position of Figs. 1 and 5. It also follows that chamber |25 in cylinder ||5 (Fig. 14) is vented, and spring |80 is effective to hold yoke |28 and plungers |33, |33a in the depressed condition of Figs. 12 to 15. Spring 65 is effective to hold pistons 42 and 55 down in the positions of Fig. 5, with valves 58 and 46 l closed, against the upward force of gas delivered to chamber 41 from tank |60 through pipe |58, inlet |55, outlet |56 and pipe 5|. For instance, assuming the dichlorodiiiuoromethane in tank |60 be at a temperature of 70 F. and its vapor pressure therefore about 70 lbs. regulating valve |6| may be set to deliver the vapor to chamber 41 at about 15 lbs. pressure, and a spring 65 is chosen which has sufficient effective force to well overpower the lifting effect of gas at this pressure as applied to the underside of stem 44. Valve E is then turned to delivery position (Fig. 16), putting the entire system into the condition of that figure. The clamp chamber remains vented as before, but exhaust port |64 is now blanked, and air inlet port |66 is put in communication with pipe |4| through passageway |10 and port |61. Compressed air is thus admitted to chamber |25 in cylinder ||5 and piston |22 is forced upwardly, carrying with it yoke |28 and plungers |33, |33a (Fig. l). The plungers pressurize the liquid in chambers ||8, |20, pipes 12, 13, and chamber 58 wherein the two liquids. are mixed. The pressure in chamber 55 raises piston 55 against the force of spring 65 and thus elevates valve member 58 from its seat 54' (Fig. 10) admitting liquid to the container through chamber 58, ports 62, passageway. 6|, chamber 54, bore 53 and orifice 34. Stop 63 limits the upward movement of piston 55.

While piston |22 is thus rising, it compresses the gas in chamber |24, Ibut not to an extent which will lift stem 44 from seat 35, said stem being pressed firmly to seat by the liquid pressure in chamber 58 and imposed on piston 42. The liquid displaced from metering chambers ||8 and |20 by the time plungers |33 and |33a strike their respective stops |40', |40a", represents delivery to the container of the predetermined charges of liquid from tanks H and I, less a small amount which is accounted for later. When the yoke and plungers come to rest at the tops of their strokes, the pressure within chamber 58 quickly drops, spring 65 depresses piston 55 and starts stem-valve 58 towards its seat 54', forcing the balance of the predetermined amount of fixed liquid into the container.

During the upward movement of yoke |28 and rod |23, the pressure of the gas in chambers |24 and 41 has been built up .by piston |22 to a value which is suilicient, as soon as the liquid pressure in chamber 58 drops, to lift piston 42 and raise valve 46 from its seat 35 (Fig. 11) whereupon the pressurized gas blows from chamber. 41 through orifice 34 and clears the latter of any liquid or deposit therefrom which may be tending to clog it. By regulation of valve |6| u the effective pressure for blowing the orifice 9 clear, may be varied to suit different clogging ferent liquids.

The combined volume of chamber |24 (when piston |22 is at the top of the stroke), pipe |59 and chamber |62 is preferably approximately equal to the volume of the liquid displaced from cylinder 120, this proportioning of volumetric capacities giving a proper degree of gas compression to suit usual needs.

When the meter reaches the end of its upstroke, the operator returns control handle |69 to the position of Fig. 1'7, it following that the motivating air pressure from line I4| is cut off and all elements return to the neutral condition originally described, though the clearing gas may continue to blow through orifice 34 during descension of the meter yoke. However, as soon as the gas has lost its excesspressure by flow into container C, spring 65 is eilective to return the valves in the delivery head B to the positions of Fig. 5. f

The operator then swings control handle |65 to the position of Fig. 18. This leaves chamber |25 vented to the atmosphere, but admits compressed air to clamp chamber 86 through port I 6B, passageway |10, port |68, pipe 98, and duct 91, thus depressing piston 85 and ,cup 'i1 against the action of spring 9| and allowing the full the bore, a tubular stem carried by saidpiston,

a valve member on said stem, said piston and container to be replaced by an empty one.`

Handle |68 is then returned to the neutral position of Fig. 17, venting clamp chamber 86 to the atmosphere and allowing spring 9| to thrust the container upwardly into clamped relation to head B. The machine is then in condition for a repetition of the cycle.

Since valve E cannot be turned to a position simultaneously delivering compressed air to both clamp cylinder 86 and meter cylinder |25, it is not possible to release clamp D, through actuation of valve E, so long as head B is delivering liquid to container C.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

, 1. In a machine for filling a container with a liquid through a lling opening in the container, a illling head having an inlet and a delivery'orince, there being a passageway in the head connecting the inlet and the delivery oriiice, said head being adapted to be associated with the container with the delivery orice and filling opening in registration, a valve in said passageway to control liquid flow therethrough, there being a gas chamber associated with said passageway; said valve comprising a seat member and a stopper member relatively movable into and out of mutual engagement, the valve being closed when said members are in mutual engagement and being open when they are out of such engagement, said members being bodily movable as one while in such engagement to open the gas chamber to the oricameans normally and yieldably holding the members against relative and bodily movement, controllable means to open the valve, a piston on said valve and exposed within said gas chamber, and means for supplying gas under pressure to said chamber after the valve is subsequently re-closed and thereby moving said members bodily whereby gas from said chamber is expelled through the orifice while the valve is closed.

2. In a machine of the character described, a

stem being movable to and from a position engaging said valve member with said seat, the bores of the piston and stern being axially con-- tinuous and opening to Opposite ends oi' the piston and stem, said stem being of reduced diameter to define, with the head-bore wall, an annular gas chamber which is in communication with the' orifice when the valve member is out or seatengaging position, there being a gas inlet to said chamber, an internal valve seat in the stem bore and there being a chamber in the stem above the seat; a second piston in 'the head bore and axially spaced from the first piston, the two pistons and the head-bore wall defining a liquid chamber, there being a liquid inlet opening to the Vliquid chamber, a stem carried by the second piston and slidable through the bores of the nrst piston and its stem, and a second valve member carried by the second stem and movable with respect to the ilrst piston to and from a position engaging said internal seat, there being a passageway in the second stem opening at one point to saldi liquid chamber and at another point to said stein chamber. y l

3. In a machine of the character described, a illling head having a delivery oriilce, there being a passageway in the head and in communication with the orifice, a valve seat in the passageway, the passageway being formed to include a head bore at the side of the seat remote from the oriilce, a tubular piston movable axially through the bore, a tubular stem carried by said piston, a valve member on said stem, said piston and stem being movable to and from a position engaging said valve member with said seat, a spring acting normally and yieldingly to hold said valve member in seat-engaging position, the bores of the piston and stem being axially continuous and opening to opposite ends of the piston and stem, said stem being of reduced diameter to denne, with the head-bore wall, an annular gas chamber which is in communication with the orice when the valve member is out of seat-engaging position, there beinga gas inlet to said chamber, an internal valve seat in the stem bore and there being a chamber in the stem above the seat; a second piston in the head bore and axially spaced from the first piston, the two pistons and the head-bore wall dening a liquid chamber, there being a liquid inlet opening to the liquid chamber, a stem carried by the second piston and siidable through the bores of the first piston and its stem, and a second valve member carried by the second stem and movable with respect to the tlrst piston to and from a position engaging said internal seat, there being a passageway in the second stem opening at one point to said liquid chamber and at another point to said stem chamber.

4. In a machine of the character described, a illling head having a delivery orifice, there being a passageway in the head and in communication with the oriiice, a valve seat in the passageway, the passageway being formed to include a head bore at the side oi' the seat remote from the oriilce, a tubular piston movable axially through the bore, a tubular stem carried by said piston,

a valve member on said stem, said piston andaucunes 'stem being 'movable to yand from a position eri-l the orice when the valve member is out of seatengaging position, there being agas inlet to said chamber, an internal valve seat in the stem bore,

and there being achamber in the stem above the seat; va secondpiston in thehead bore and axially spaced from the rst piston, the two pistons and the head-bore wall deinin'g a liquid chamber, there being a liquid inlet opening to th liquidy chamber, astem' carried by the second piston and slidable-through the bores of the rst piston and its stem, and a second valve member carried by the second stem and movable with respect to the rst'piston toand from a position engaging said internal seat, a spring acting normally and yieldingly to hold said second valve member in engagement with said internal seat, there being a passageway in the second stem opening at one point to said liquid chamber and at anotherpoint to said stem chamber.

5. In a machine of the character described, a filling head having a delivery orice, there being a passageway in the head and in communication with the oriiice, a valve seat in the passageway, the passageway being formed to include a head bore at the side of the seat remote from the oriilce, a tubular piston movable axially through the bore, a tubular stem carried by said piston, a valve member on said stem, said piston and stem Ibeing movable to and from a position engaging said valve member with said seat, the bores of the piston and stem being axially 'continuous and opening to opposite ends of the piston and stem, said stem being of reduced diameter to deilne, with thehead-bore wall, an annular gas chamber which is in communication with the orifice when the valve member is out of seat-engaging position, there being a gas inlet to said chamber, an internal valve seat in the stem bore and there being a chamber in the st em above the seat; a second piston in the head bore and axially spaced from the iirst piston, the two pistons and the head-bore wall defining a liquid chamber, there being a liquid inlet. opening to the liquid chamber, a stem carriedby the second piston and slidable through the bores of the rst piston and its stem, a second v alve member carried by the second `stem and movable with respect to the first piston to and from a position engaging said internal seat, there being a passageway in the second stem opening at one point to said liquid chamber and at another point to Wiz uve 'to apen ma valve. a meter cylinderand a displacement V plungerl slidable through said cylinder, there being la check.- valved liquidinlet opehingtosaid cylinder, an outlet line from-said cylinder andl opening to said passageway, and means forreciprocating' said plunger, alternately to draw liquid`through the inlet into the cylinder and to pressurize the liquid in said passageway. v

7. In a machine for filling a container with a liquid through a illlingopening in the container,

' a filling head having an inlet and a delivery orince, there being a passageway in the head connecting the i'nlet'and the delivery oritlce, said head being ada'r'ited to be associated with the ,container with the delivery orifice and nlling opening in registration, a valvein said passageway to control liquid flow therethrough, means I normally andl yieldably holding said valve closed,

a piston connected tothe valve and exposed to liquid in said passageway whereby said liquid, under predetermined pressure, is effective to open said valve, a meter embodying a cylinder and a displacement plunger slidable through said cylindexgmeans for varying the displacement stroke of the plunger, there being a check-valved liquid inlet opening to `said cylinder, an outlet line from said cylinder and opening to said passageway, and means for reciprocating said plunger,

alternately to draw liquid through the inlet into the cylinder and to pressurize the liquid in said passageway.

8. ,In amachine for filling a container with a liquid through-a filling opening in the container,

a filling head having an inlet and a delivery orifice, there being a passageway in the head connecting the inlet and the delivery orice, said head being adapted to be associated with the container with the delivery orice and illling opening in registration, a valve in said passageway to control liquid flow therethrough, means normally and yieldably holding said valve closed,

y a piston connected to the valve and exposed to said stem chamber, and a spring applied to the rst piston and acting normallyand yieldingly to hold both said valve members in engagement with their respective seats.

6. In a machine for filling a container with a liquid through a filling opening in the container, a iilling head having an inlet and a delivery oriilce, there being a passageway in the head connecting the inlet and the delivery oriiice, said head being adapted to be associated with the container with the delivery. orifice and filling opening in registration, a valve in said passageway to control liquid ow therethrough, means normally and yieldably holding said valve closed, a piston connected to the valve and exposed to liquid in said passageway whereby said liquid, under predetermined pressure, is eiIecliquid in said passageway whereby said liquid, under predetermined pressure, is effective to open said valve, a meter embodying a cylinder and a displacement plunger slidable through said cylinder, there being a check-valved liquid inlet opening to said cylinder, an outlet line from said cylinder and opening to said passageway, means for reciprocating said plunger, alternately to draw 'liquid through the inlet into the cylinder and to pressurize the liquid in said passageway, and means operated by the last named means and acting to clear said orifice of liquid when said valve is subsequently closed.

- 9. In a machine for filling a container with a liquid through a filling opening in the container, a fillingv head having an inlet and a delivery orifice, there being a passageway in the head connecting the inlet and the delivery oriiice, said head being adapted to be associated with the container with the delivery orifice and illiing opening in registration, a valve in said pas- ,.sageway to control liquid ilow therethrough,

means normally and yieldably holding said valve closed, a piston connected to the valve and exposed to liquid in said passageway whereby said liquid, under predetermined pressure, is eilective to open said valve, a meter embodying a cylinder and a displacement plunger slidable through said cylinder, there being a check-valved liquid inlet opening to said cylinder, an outlet line from said cylinder and opening to said passageway, means for reciprocating said plunger, alternately to draw liquid through the inlet into the cylinder and pressurize the liquid in said passageway, and means operated by the last named means and acting to expel gas through said orifice to clearl it of liquid when said valve is subsequently closed.

10. In a machine for lling a container with a mixture of liquids through a filling opening in the container, a lling head having a plurality of inlets adapted to be individually connected with different liquid sources, said head also having a delivery orifice adapted to be associated with the container in a manner whereby the orifice and lling opening are in registration, there being a mixing chamber in the head and in communication with said inlets, and there being a passageway from said mixing chamber to said oriiice, a valve in said passageway to control liquid ilow therethrough, means normally and yieldably holding said valve closed, a piston connected to the valve and exposed to liquid in said mixing chamber whereby liquid in that chamber, and under predetermined pressure, is eiective to open said valve, a pair of meters, each embodying a cylinder, a displacement plunger slidable through said cylinder and a check-valved inlet opening to the cylinder, an outlet line from one cylinder to one of the filling head inlets, and an outlet line from the other cylinder to the other lling head inlet, and means for simultaneously reciprocating said plungers.

ll. In a machine for lling a container with a mixture of liquids through a illing opening in the container, a lling head having a plurality of inlets adapted to be individually connected with different liquid sources, said head also having a delivery orice adapted to be associated with the container in a manner whereby the orice and nlling opening are in registration, there being a mixing chamber in the head and in communication with said inlets, and there being a passageway from said mixing chamber to said orifice, a valve in said passageway to control liquid flow therethrough, means normally and yieldably holding said valve closed, a piston connected to the valve and exposed to liquid in said mixing chamber whereby liquid in that chamber, and under predetermined pressure, is effective to open said valve, a pair of meters, each embodying a cylinder, a displacement plunger slidable through said cylinder and a check-valved inlet opening to the cylinder, an outlet line from one cylinder to one of the filling head inlets, and an outlet line from the 14 other cylinder to the other filling head inlet, means for simultaneously reciprocating said plungers, and means for individually varying the displacement strokes of said plungers.

12. In a machine for filling a container with a mixture of liquids through a filling opening in the container, a filling head having a plurality of inlets adapted to be individually connected with diiferent liquid sources, said head also having a delivery orice adapted to be associated with the container in a manner whereby the orii'lce and iilling opening are in registration, there being a mixing chamber in the head and in communication with said inlets, and there being a passageway from said mixing chamber to said orice, a valve in said pasageway to control liquid ilow therethrough, means normally and yieldably holding said valve closed, a piston connected to the valve and exposed to liquid in said mixing chamber whereby liquid in that chamber, and under predetermined pressure, is eiective to open said valve, a pair of meters, each embodying a cylinder, a displacement plunger slidable through said cylinder, and a check-valved inlet opening to the cylinder, an outlet line from one cylinder to one of the lling head inlets, and an outlet line from the other cylinder to the other illling head inlet, and uid pressure means for simultaneously reciprocating said plungers.

REUBEN STANLEY SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 732,678 Ford June 30, 1903 976,751 Schneider Nov. 22, 1910 1,135,653 Bartlett Apr. 13, 1915 1,252,881 Calleson Jan. 8, 1918 1,435,300 Holmquist Nov. 14, 1922 1,860,270 Thubron May 24, 1932 1,368,444 Bechtold July 1.9, 1932 1,962,161 Thompson June 1.2, 1934 2,041,735 Young May 216, 1936 2,080,566 Ginter et al May 1.8, 1937 2,112,199 Kantor Mar. 22, 1938 2,118,436 Kantor May 24, 1938 FOREIGN PA/TENTS Number Country Date 572,926 France Mar. I1, 1924 

